In recognition of the many fine individual contributions to athletics, the Tacoma Athletic Commission established the State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame in 1960. Commissioned by then-governor Albert D. Rosellini and originated by Clay Huntington, longtime Northwest sportscaster and radio station owner, the State Hall of Fame inductions are held annually.

These Hall of Fame members are recognized for their outstanding sports accomplishments and contributions that have brought national acclaim to themselves and to the state of Washington. A committee of sportswriters and sportscasters from throughout the state cast ballots to determine the new inductees who are selected from an impressive list of candidates.

Recognized as one of the nation's top women tennis stars for 25 years.
UW All-American football standout, 14 year pro career.
Top pro bowler, first to win $1 million.
Member national Baseball Hall of Fame, great Cleveland Indians outfielder.
Three time all-NFL end, member pro Football Hall of Fame.
One of UW's outstanding football coaches.
Washington State University's legendary baseball coach for 34 years.
One of pro football's all-time kicking greats, 15 years in the NFL with 4 teams.
Seattle University basketball All-American, sensational NBA pro-star.
Top Pacific Northwest TV and Radio sportscaster for nearly 50 years.
WSU's two-time All-American basketball star.
The original voice of the Sonics for 25 years
Long-time WSU basketball coach, track coach, and athletic director.
A football, basketball and baseball coaching legend at Whitman College.
Winner of 121 games in the National League while pitching for the lowly Boston Braves.
A 1928 Olympics shot-put Silver Medallist, later a Hollywood movie actor.
Dean of Northwest sportswriters, a career of nearly 60 years with Seattle PI.
Transplanted Washingtonian, starred 13 years with Sonics, retiring in 1984.
A 16-year major league star with lifetime batting average of .306.
UW All-American back in the 30's, later one of the nation's top grid officials.
Brilliant UW crewman, later coached Huskies to several national championships.
WSU standout receiver, outstanding CFL player and coach.
Gonzaga U. football standout, later NFL star with Green Bay.
Considered by many as the nation's all-time woman golfer.
An All-American UW running back in the late 20's.
Hit 316 home runs in a 17-year major league career.
Major league career of 12 seasons with St. Louis Browns, 1558 hits.
A premier WSU pass receiver who spent 11 years as a pro standout in the NFL.
Recognized as one of the State's great teaching and playing golf pros.
UW crew coach and winner of numerous Poughkeepsie national championships.
WSU basketball and baseball All-American star in the NBA and National League.
Outstanding athlete, recognized as leader of State's horse breeders.
UW football coach whose teams won 63 games without a loss over nine seasons.
A UW coaching "institution" with 26 years in basketball and 35 in track.
WSU football stalwart of the 30's member of both College and NFL Hall of Fame.
One of Gonzaga's all-time athletes, later a pro star and 10 year NFL head coach.
Compiled a lifetime .313 batting average in 15 seasons in the major league.
Captain of the Seattle Metropolitans, 1917 Stanley Cup champions.
One of the UW's finest guards and an All-American choice.
Dean of all-time WSU coaches, guiding Cougar basketball teams to over 500 wins.
One of the state's outstanding amateur and professional golfers.
Distinguished UW basketball All-American, retired Marine Corps General.
Winner of every northwest amateur golfing honor, U.S. Walker Cup member in 1933.
One of WSU's all-time football greats, three-time All-American selection.
Former No.2 U.S. tennis star, Davis Cup veteran and team captain.
Founder of Longacres, individual most responsible for State's thoroughbred sport.
One of State's outstanding swimmers, Gold Medallist at 1968 Olympics.
Standout Cleveland Indians pitcher, leading the league with a 23-7 mark in 1911.
One of the nation's top swimming coaches who won 24 consecutive state titles.
Considered one of the state's top all-time woman golfers.
A basketball coaching legend with UW, WSU and PLU.
An outstanding major league outfielder for over 15 seasons in both leagues.
Considered one of pro football's greatest after brilliant WSU career.
A two-time UW football All-American, eight-year NFL quarterback, later NFL coach.
Dean of state's high school and college coaches, career spanning 51 years.
WSU's exceptional football coach of 17 seasons, long-time Shrine game coach.
A stylish boxer who twice held the World's middleweight boxing title.
An all-time UW basketball All-American, later an NBA player and administrator.
Longtime broadcaster and founder of the State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame.
One of baseball's most respected, standout major league pitcher and manager.
State's most distinguished native -born jockey, winning national acclaim in 30's.
One of the UW all-time great football coaches.
A .285 lifetime hitter in nine seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Owner of a .298 lifetime batting average over a 13-year major league career.
Major league pitching standout with Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers.
First major league rookie to get 200 hits in a season, 10-year average of .296.
The first play-by-play sportscaster for the old American Football League.
First United States skier to win an Olympic Gold Medal, winning in 1948.
A legendary Seattle Seahawk receiver establishing several NFL records.
Credited with the title of "Mr. Baseball" as Seattle radio sportscaster for years.
Rated as one of UW's all-time All-American basketball stars, later played pro baseball.
A WSU Cougar who became a legend in pro football with the San Diego Chargers
A WSU basketball All-American standout in the 1940's.
A WSU track star who rewrote the NCAA record books with 11 national records.
An all-time United States women's swim champion, Olympic Gold Medal in 1932.
One of the nation's top skiers and Olympic ski sensation.
Olympic Games ski champion and winner of numerous ski titles.
Husky All-American early 1960's, later a standout with Eagles and Steelers.
A standout All-American lineman for UW and an NFL player with Cleveland.
One of the state's most prolific sports authors with over 30 top-rated books.
All-American with the Huskies, later one of the all-time NFL greats.
Ruled the NCAA swimming record book as a UW star, Olympic Gold Medal in "36.
One of the all-time Cougar football greats of the mid-20's, later a NFL player.
A sports editor with the Seattle Times for over 50 years.
Sports editor for the Spokesman-Review in Spokane for nearly 30 years. An accomplished golfer as well.
A key UW basketball All-American standout in the 1940's.
Became the most successful driver in hydroplane racing history.
The school's leading scorer as UW All-American, spent 10 seasons in the NBA.
Outstanding high school coach for nearly 30 years, winning 22 championships.
One half of the famous Seattle U basketball duo, also major league baseballer.
Seattle U's famous little man All-American star, played baseball for Pittsburgh
A veteran Seattle sportswriter who covered the sports scene of over 50 years.
Popular UW football coach who posted 92 wins over 17 seasons.
Another WSU football All-American star, a nine-year NFL pro with Cleveland Browns.
Nationally recognized handball champion.
A 28-year college football coach, he served 12 seasons as head coach of the Huskies.
Tacoma prep football standout, U of Oregon All-American, NBC sportscaster.
Former UW football All-American and San Diego Chargers' standout.
WSU Cougar star who rewrote the Canadian pro football records over 13 seasons.
Ranked as the State's greatest marksman, winner of numerous trapshooting titles.
A member of Baseball's Hall of Fame who won 250 games in nine major league seasons
One of the state's outstanding golfers, winner of numerous titles.
Brilliant 15-year major leaguer career with Chicago Cubs and White Sox.
Father of hydroplane racing in Seattle, nationally-known for the sport.
All-American UW quarterback, led his team to back-to back Rose Bowl wins.
Holder of 12 world records for outboard and unlimited race drivers
Excelled on both offense and defense as an All-American tackle at the UW.
Stellar NBA player with the Sonics. Member of 1979 world champions.
First UW basketball star to win All-American honors three straight years.
Winner of 134 games with St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago White Sox, won American League ERA crown twice.
One of UW's grid greats with an outstanding NFL pro career with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Tacoma's "Boy Wonder" boxing standout, holder of World's middleweight crown.
Holder of three World's records as a UW pole vaulter, a premier athlete.
Winner of three major pro golf championships over a four-decade career.
Considered one of the major league's premier pitching coaches.
Winner of 164 games during an 11-year pitching career with the New York Yankees.
A WSU All-American, finished a distinguished career as an NFL player and coach.
The 2nd Earl of Snohomish had a distinguished 15-year major league career.
WSU star who spent over 40 years as NFL player and coach.
Identified as one of the prime movers in the development of State sports.
A gifted ski jumper with a worldwide reputation, winner of numerous national titles.
A brilliant UW crewman in the 20's he coached the Huskies for 33 years.
A Seattle native who pitched 15 seasons in the major league.
Superb amateur golfer who won back-to-back U.S. National Amateur titles.
A 10-year National League pitcher. He threw a no-hitter against San Francisco in 1968.
A UW football star who became an NFL All-Pro tackle with the New York Giants.
One of the State's truly all-time golfing standouts.
Long time Seattle baseball favorite, his career extended over 42 years.
A UW basketball All-American he chose a baseball career of 11 years with Boston Red Sox.
WSU football great, later an NFL and CFL pro coach.
Ranked as one of UW's finest grid stars, he went on to a pro career.
Distinguished sportswriter in Tacoma and Chicago, later Commissioner of the AFL.

The Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame was the brainchild of longtime sportscaster, sports writer, and radio station owner Clay Huntington who encouraged the Tacoma Athletic Commission to recognize the community's great sports stars for their outstanding athletic achievements over the years.

The first Hall of Fame inductees were recognized in 1957 and additional members were added into the 1970's before the organization ceased honoring local athletes. After an absence of 33 years, the TAC resumed its its efforts in 2005 to recognize individuals by inducting 216 well-deserving new members to the star-studded fold. The TAC plans to induct 10-20 individuals on an annual basis from here on out.

These Hall of Fame members are recognized for their outstanding sports accomplishments and contributions that have brought significant local and regional acclaim to themselves and to the Tacoma-Pierce County area. Additional criteria includes:

Athletes must be retired from active competition.
Exception: Individuals in such categories as a coach, administrator, official, broadcaster or sportswriter still active at the age of 70 may be nominated for the HOF.

Coaches, administrators, broadcasters, sportswriters, and officials must demonstrate significant accomplishments in their field for an extended length of time.

Individuals to be considered must be born and raised in Tacoma-Pierce County or must have maintained significant long-term residence in the community. Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the TPCHOF committee.

Other categories not listed will be considered on an individual basis by the committee.

Nominations for future considerations, which should include a detailed description of the individualís athletic career, are encouraged from the general public.

To submit a nomination, you may submit your information on-line by using the following directions:
1. Go to www.tacomasportsmuseum.com
2. Click on Sports Hall of Fames in the menu bar at the top of the page.
3. Click on Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame
4. Click on ěOn-Line Nomination Formî in red.
5. Complete information and click submit at bottom or form.

A committee of local sportswriters, Tacoma Athletic Commission members, and current HOF inductees will cast ballots to determine the new inductees who will be selected from an impressive list of candidates. Honorees will be recognized at an annual spring function.